Founded in 1903, the Lincoln News Sentinel has operated alongside the Lincoln Journal as a primary record of events for Lincoln County, West Virginia. Based in Hamlin, the newspaper has spent over a century documenting the region’s evolution from an early oil and timber hub to a modern Appalachian community. As a weekly publication, it has historically focused on hyper-local content, including legal notices, county commission news, and the achievements of local students and athletes. 

Throughout the late 20th century, the News Sentinel was part of a broader trend of regional newspaper consolidation. In the late 1980s, it was owned by Eugene Brewer before being sold to the Ben Smith Newspaper Group, an Alabama-based company. In July 1995, local residents Tom and Patty Robinson purchased the publication, beginning a 25-year period of family ownership. Under their leadership, the News Sentinel remained a staple of Hamlin life, maintaining its tradition of printing every Wednesday. 

The most recent chapter in the paper’s history began in January 2021, when it and the Lincoln Journal were acquired by HD Media LLC. This acquisition placed the Hamlin weeklies within a larger media family that includes the Charleston Gazette-Mail and The Herald-Dispatch. Today, the Lincoln News Sentinel continues to serve as a vital local voice, leveraging its new regional resources to maintain its historical commitment to the residents of Lincoln County.